Castles of northern Croatia that you must not miss

Did you know that the densest concentration of historical buildings is located in the area of ​​our three smallest counties? There are many castles in northern Croatia, but only a few of them have been valued for tourism, and only for museum purposes. Thus Trakošćan Castle, Veliki Tabor Castle, Gornja Stubica, Čakovec and Varaždin's Old Town individually attract almost 200.000 visitors a year.

Trakošćan
Photo: Domagoj Sever, source: Varaždin County Tourist Board

Tourists, especially foreign ones, do not attach much importance to the political and territorial borders that separate the counties. Thus, connecting the castles, manors and forts of northern Croatia into a complete tourist product is an opportunity for their valorization, tourist positioning, and in the future, their restoration.

The tourist boards of Krapina-Zagorje, Međimurje and Varaždin Counties signed an agreement on project association, with which the project of 100 castles of Northern Croatia formally began.

///The history and culture of Croatia is something you should not miss

Trakošćan Castle

One of the most attractive and oldest castles in Croatia is located in an attractive location in Croatian Zagorje. Trakošćan Castle is about twenty kilometers from Krapina and forty kilometers from Varaždin. If you are traveling from Zagreb to one day trip, you'll be there in an hour.

Trakošćan
Photo: Siniša Sović, source: Varaždin County Tourist Board

The hidden castle of Trakošćan is secluded in a landscape park consisting of a large artificial lake, meadows, autochthonous oak and hornbeam forests and rich flora and fauna.

The history that accompanies the Trakošćan castle it is rich, interesting and instructive. The first information about Trakošćan is that it was created at the end of the 13th century in the defense system of northwestern Croatia as a small observation fort to monitor the road from Ptuj to the Bednjan valley.

The first known owners were the Counts of Celj, and after them the castle often changed owners. In the 16th century, ownership of the castle was taken over by the state, and soon the lord of the most famous Drašković family, Count Juraj Drašković, officially took over the castle, and finally in 1584, Trakošćan was acquired by the Drašković family.

Dvor Veliki Tabor

The noble town of Veliki Tabor is one of the most significant cultural and historical monuments of profane architecture in continental Croatia. Exceptional precisely because of its monumental and authentic fortification architecture.

large camp
Dvor Veliki Tabor, author: Jasenka Haleuš

With its location on the top of Hum Košnički, at 333 meters above sea level, it has dominated the Zagorje region for more than half a millennium - the architecture has actually merged with nature, creating a unique image. The view from Veliki Tabor over the entire Croatian Zagorje and part of Slovenia is also impressive. This a cultural monument of the highest zero category it is one of the most recognizable identities, not only of Hrvatsko Zagorje, but also of Croatia.

It is best known for the legend of Veronika Desinićka, who was walled up in the walls of the castle because of her forbidden love with a young count. Apparently, Veronica's sobs can still be heard, especially during the winter.

large camp
Photo: Tomislav Beronić

Old town of Varaždin

From its inception, development in the Middle Ages until today, Varaždin has always been a city that its inhabitants loved and its guests admired.

What makes Varaždin different from other cities is that it is exceptional monumental and artistic heritage with the most preserved and richest baroque urban complex. The Varaždin feudal fortress, called the Old Town since ancient times, is the most significant historical building in Varaždin.

the old town of Varaždin
The old town of Varaždin, photo: Andrej Švoger

It was the center of a noble estate, owned and legally separated from the royal and free city of Varaždin. Today's fortress was built from the 14th to the 19th century, and its oldest part is the central tower. The benches and canopies on its ground floor are the most beautiful examples of Gothic secular plastic in the north of Croatia.

The tower with the chain bridge, also known as the 'Watchtower', is particularly interesting. It was built in the second half of the 16th century in the Renaissance style. As a remnant of the defense system of the feudal fort, it has managed to be completely preserved to this day. While it was in the function for which it was built, it served as accommodation for soldiers and as the apartment of the captain of the fortress guard.

Zrinski Castle in Čakovec

- If any Croatian historical space can be said to be intended to represent the heritage, culture and tradition of its region, then it is certainly the Zrinski castle in Čakovec, he wrote our blogger Tomislav Beronić.

treasury of Međimurje
The old town of Čakovec, photo: Međimurje County

Čakovec is proud of the Croatian princes of Zrinski, as evidenced by the commemorative plaque on the wall at the entrance to the city walls. The Zrinskis came into possession of Čakovec in 1546. The then relatively modest fort with wooden palisades was bought by the Croatian ban Nikola Šubić Zrinski, the famous defender of Siget.

Around the Old Town of the Zrinskis is the Perivoj Zrinski, which bears witness to an important part of Croatian history when the respected noble Zrinski family held a banking conference in Čakovec. Perivoj has been declared several times as the best organized park in continental Croatia.

The old town of Čakovec, i.e. The old town of Zrinski, categorized as a cultural asset of national importance, is today home to the local museum "Treasure of Međimurje", where you can learn all about the rich history and traditions of Međimurje.

Treasury of Međimurje
Treasury of Međimurje, photo: Denis Perčić

As the legends about dragons, the so-called pozoi, are characteristic of Međimurje, there is a rumor about Čakovec that the head of the green dragon is under the Old Town of Čakovec, and the tail is under the church of St. Nicholas (some say it's the other way around), and only Đak grabancijaš (an educated scholar and literate sorcerer who chases away and calms the dragon with a stick) can free him from the spell, and it is dangerous to disturb the dragon under the Old Town because then numerous disasters occur.

Oršić Castle

The baroque castle in Gornja Stubica was built in 1756 by Count Krsto Oršić, on the site of an older medieval fortress. The new castle no longer had any defensive function, but was exclusively used for housing. Oršić Castle was a private residence until 1924, when the last Oršićs left it. For a while, part of the castle premises served as an elementary school, and it was also used by the local peasant cooperative.

At the end of the sixties and the beginning of the seventies of the 20th century, the castle was completely renovated and the Museum of Peasants' Revolts is housed in its premises.

Oršić Castle
Peasant Revolt Museum, Photo: Museum Archive

Although at first glance Zagorje seems to be a rather fairytale place, in the past historically significant events took place here, which had a great impact on the development of society both in Zagorje and in the whole of Croatia. One such event was Peasant revolt, a rebellion of oppressed peasants against the powerful Franjo Tahy and other rulers.

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